Playgrounds Are Fake

Typically, the “playground” is thought of as a place in physical space.

Students eagerly watch the clock tick by, waiting for the glorious moment when they’re given the green light to dart out of the classroom and escape to the “playground.” When our kids are particularly well-behaved and homework isn’t stacked too high, we might reward them with a trip to the “playground,” where they get a chance to cut loose and be kids for a little while. No matter where the “playground” is located, one truth remains constant-- it’s a place where imaginations catch fire.  

But, reflect on the impact that might be felt if, instead of thinking about the “playground” as a place somewhere outside of ourselves, we began approaching it as a state somewhere within…

By isolating the “playground” to specific physical spaces, we limit the boundless opportunities for imagination and growth that are unfolding around us in every waking moment. Equally as valuable to our little ones as them sliding down the jungle gym’s twisty slide is them pretending to be pancake chefs with the dirt in the frontyard garden. Approaching our day as a chance to play the game of the world teaches the powerful lessons to our kids that there are possibilities for fun and learning around every corner, boredom isn’t a thing, and one’s ability to have a good time depends on outlook and not location or circumstance.

This whole world is a playground, playfulness is a mindset, and kids look to us to set the tone. So, are you pissed and stuck in traffic on the way to school, or are you driving your kids in a spaceship that has to make frequent stops for passing asteroids?

#PickYourPlayground,

Trevor

Empower To Play

A requisite with any sort of evolution is an expansion of the language needed to effectively communicate the the new status quo. As individuals, relationships, and companies increase in complexity, what was at one time a sufficient way to adequately summarize things becomes decreasingly applicable over time. After ten years of marriage, referring to your wife as your girlfriend is probably not going to make the cut.

In 2012, Champ Camp started as a kids’ summer beach camp. Those first few years, that is precisely what we were. We ate, breathed, and slept beach camp-edness. When asked, “What does Champ Camp do?” the answer was always a no brainer. That is, until it wasn’t.

As time passed, we found ourselves in more and more environments that looked less and less like the beach. We’ve matured into an organization that puts on birthday bashes, hotel parties, community events, and movie nights all year round, with even further diversification on the horizon. Plus, we still do that whole summer beach camp thing. Considering the above, it’s not hard to see that some more inclusive jargon is essential in order to convey the entirety of what Champ Camp has become. Luckily for us, an undeniable commonality is intentionally threaded through every action we take.

Whether we’re playing a giant game of dodgeball in the heat of July on the sands of Manhattan Beach, building a make-believe haunted fort at Kids Night in Playa Vista, or leading a line dance in the Fall at St. Anastasia’s Parish Party, there’s always one thing that we do (and have always done) no matter what our environment looks like:

Empower To Play.

There you go, folks-- that’s our secret sauce. As it turns out, the last thing kids need is to be told how to play. They understand this concept on a level much deeper than us adults can ever hope to remember. Rather, little ones thrive given the feeling they’re empowered to play in whichever way they darn well please. So, next time you see us tossing water balloons at The Point, trick-or-treating in Playa Vista, or boogie boarding in Redondo Beach, you’ll know exactly what we’re up to.

Just playin’,

Trevor

ChampCamp Fun Facts!

From afar, it could be difficult to figure us out.

As a passerby on the Strand in Manhattan Beach, we don’t blame you for not knowing how to feel about the dozens of kids in brightly-clad rashguards going buck wild on the sand. “Did I just hear sixty children and ten adults yell “OCTOPUS” at the tops of their lungs?!”

While peacefully sippin’ joe in Playa del Rey, it’s completely understandable that you might wonder to yourself, “What the bleep is ChampCamp, and why did their bright green van just meow at me?” as we cruise by you on Culver Boulevard. Yep, the ChampVan meows (long story).

Timmy (a.k.a. "Black Beard") in between takes.

If you hear your friends describing some allegedly epic summer-long party on the sand that they are sending their kids to for the third year in a row, we know that a slurry of uncertainties will inevitably swell up in your mind. “What do they do all day? Is it even safe? What about the gluten??” Please don’t be so hard on yourself-- this is totally normal.

In an effort to shed a bit of light on the above quandaries, as well as answer some of the most common questions that we receive, we’re excited to bring to you ChampCamp Fun Facts! Each of these short little clips features a ChampCamp team member lending insight into some aspect of our Champtastic world. These gems will be comin’ atchya in the near future, so be ready to learn what the word “Panda” means to us, why we build a “House” in the ocean every day, and how we’re able to blow the mind of each and every type of kid that the Universe sends our way.

Meow,

Trevor

PS- Check out our first FunFact HERE!

Helicopter Moms Welcome

Listen, we totally get it.

Image Credit: The Huffington Post

Your neighbor’s kids did Champ Camp last year, and by all accounts had a blast. Then in the Fall, you noticed one of your little one’s classmates rocking a mesmerizing tie dyed shirt. When you asked him where he got it, he told you that he made it at ChampCamp, and went on to corroborate your neighbor’s story, raving about his newfound passion for boogie boarding and affinity for afternoon dance-offs. And after all of this, you even saw the giant green ChampVan driving through Downtown Manhattan.

Now it’s Springtime and everyone is planning out their kids’ summers. Naturally, Champ Camp pops right into your frontal lobe. Other parents are constantly asking about your Summer plans, as they’re trying to arrange for a big group of classmates to get the ChampCamp experience together. But, even with all the perceived positivity surrounding us, you’re not quite sold-- and you shouldn’t be.

Once and for all, you decide to get to the bottom of this whole ChampCamp saga. With a detailed interrogation list in hand, you give us a buzz, and we chat for the better part of an hour. To your relief and surprise, we substantiate everything you’ve heard and seen over the past several months-- our high fives & good vibes mentality all but radiates through your iPhone. Suspiciously satisfied, you throw out one last zinger that will either make or break all that’s been built up to that moment. “Can I come watch what you all do down there?” you ask. “Why of course you can!” we reply. Nailed it!

We fully acknowledge the great degree of skepticism surrounding the idea that it’s even possible for your youngster to be completely safe for a week on the beach, all while making memories that add up to this being the best summer of their life, so far. Our ostensibly far-fetched proposition shouldn’t be accepted without a healthy dose of empirical data-- your vetting process should be thorough.

So, by all means, come check us out! Cruise by the week before your child’s session, setup your own undercover camp down the beach to see what we’re up to, or even take it to the ocean and spy on us from a jet ski. Whatever it takes for your confidence in us to rise to the level of the great stuff you’ve heard about us, go do that thing! All that we ask is that you leave ample time to find parking, as the spots on our helicopter mom landing pad are usually taken :).

Clear for takeoff,

-Trevor